Welcome to my crafty blog... a "garden" of colourful cards, quilting, sewing projects, knitting...and what ever else happens along the way!!


Sunday, March 31, 2013

Ikat Thank You

I've been having fun with the Irresistibly Ikat set from Papertrey Ink.  
I had a panel of stamped cardstock left over from another project, 
so I decided to use it on a thank you card. The final size is 4"x 4".

I used a variety of blue inks to create an ombre effect and then 
added a sentiment in the darkest blue. Dark blue paper was used 
to mat the stamped panel before adding it to a white card base.



Raspberry Fizz card stock was used to make a flower with the Bloom Builder's #3 die. (I used the two smallest flowers on the die and cut them twice to create a 4 layer flower.)  A clear adhesive dot was added to the center.


Card Details: (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps -  Irresistibly Ikat, Mini Blooms (sentiment)
Inks - Spring Rain, Blueberry Sky; 
Outdoor Denim (Close To My Heart)
Paper - Stamper's Select White, Raspberry Fizz; 
dark blue paper (from my scrapbin)
Dies - Bloom Builder's #3; 
Spellbinders: Square Nestabilities
Other - Clear adhesive dot

I am linking this  card to the
Ombre Challenge in  the Moxie Fab World.

Thanks for visiting today. 
Karen C.

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Buttons & Brooches

I  wanted to add a little gift to a parcel I was sending off to one of my grand nieces. Since she studied dinosaurs in pre-school, she has been fascinated by them. I had a sheet of Dinosaur Shrinky Dinks in my stash, so I made this set 
 of brooches and buttons. the Button Card die and Boutique Additions Card Die Collection were used to create packaging for them.

Boutique Accessories - Broochess
Supplies - PTI, unless noted
Stamps - Friendship Jar & Friendship Jar: Spring Fillers; Sew Simple Borders
Inks - Royal Velvet; Berry Sorbet
Paper - Harvest Gold;  Recollection: Easter Paper
Dies - Boutique Accessories Card Die Collection


Buttons

Supplies - PTI, unless noted
Stamps - Button Boutique 
Inks - Royal Velvet;  Berry Sorbet
Paper - Harvest Gold, Berry Sorbet;  Recollection: Easter Paper
Dies - Button Card; Buttoned Up Die #2 
Other - 1/2" & 5/8" square punches; embroidery floss

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Bunny Postcards

When I first saw the bunny in Polka Dot Parade #1, I knew it would 
make perfect Easter cards for my grand nieces and nephews 
(and my sons and husband too!!) Once I started working on a layout, 
I decided to make little "postcards" instead of traditional cards.

Here's a stack of eleven postcards all set for Easter.

A rainbow of bunnies - blues,  pinks, lavender, purple and yellow.

The front panel was cut from Stamper's Select White 
card stock using a 3" x 4" die (My Favorite Things)
I stamped the sentiment and bunny first, then masked 
the bunny so the flowers and stems could be stamped 
along the bottom. The "sun"  was added, then the blue 
skies were inked with a blending tool. Finally individual 
names were stamped in the top left corner and a 
Vintage Cream felt tail was attached. 

Each card was mounted onto a mat of a coordinating colour:

Spring Rain Bunny  and  Limeade Ice Cardstock Mat

Blueberry Sky Bunny and Cardstock Mat

Harvest Gold Bunny and Berry Sorbet Mat

Berry Sorbet Bunny and Harvest Gold Mat

Lavender Moon Bunny and Cardstock Mat

Winter Wisteria Bunny and Cardstock Mat

   
PTI  Products, unless noted
Bunnies: Ink colours and card stock as noted above; Vintage Cream felt 
Sky:  Crystal Blue (Close to My Heart)
Sentiments: 
Limeade Ice,  Simply Chartreuse inks
Sun: Flower Fusion #9; Back Pocket Basics, 
Bits and Buttons; Summer Sunrise & Harvest Gold inks
Flower Border:  
March Word Puzzle (Close to My Heart)    Berry Sorbet, Winter Wisteria, Simply Chartreuse inks 
Personalized Names: 
Sans Serif Alphabet (Close to My Heart)

 A white panel was added to the back with a sentiment, 
date and copic coloured images. The space in the center 
will allow me to write a personalized note to each little one!!

Sentiments:  Happy Easter (Polka Dot Parade #1)  Have a Sweet Day (Garden Variety) 
Small bunny and egg images: (Clear Dollar Stamps); copic markers 
Stitched Border:  Sew Simple Borders;  Simply Chartreuse ink 
Date:  Mini Scrapbook Series: Library and Additions


Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Birds and Blooms Anniversary




Layers of colour, texture, dainty flowers and birds .....  
Birds and Blooms from Papertrey Ink is a fun set for spring projects!!  Three colours and styles of flowers, along with mini pink pearls accent the detailed wreath. I fussy cut the wreath as well as some of the flowers and the blue bird and then mounted them with foam adhesive dots onto a square panel of card stock that has been embossed with Swiss Dots.





 I made this card for my niece's anniversary at the end of March.  I love the way it turned out and I'm anxious to try some other colour combinations.

Winter Wisteria satin ribbon was used to divide the top portion of the card and the sentiment panel. Winter Wisteria cardstock (Birds and Swirls Embossing Folder) and a matching set of mini pearls continue the colour scheme.

Additional flowers and leaves were stamped on either side of the sentiment. You can see the various embossing folders and impression plate used to create all of the textures on the different layers of card stock. 

Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Birds and Blooms, Fillable Frames #4,
Inks - Lavender Moon, Winter Wisteria, Spring Rain, Simply Chartreuse;   
Indian Corn Blue (Close to My Heart)
Papers - Stamper's Select White, Winter Wisteria
Dies - (I didn't have the die collection when I made this card, so everything is 'fussy' cut. )
Other Supplies - Winter Wisteria Bitty Dots Satin Ribbon; Linen/Canvas Impression Plate; 
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder and Birds and Swirls Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug);  
 Mini pink and lavender adhesive pearls

Card Interior
The branch image from Birds and Blooms was stamped along the bottom with Simply Chartreuse ink; flowers with Lavender Moon. 
Autumn Rose ink was used to stamp the sentiment (Pretty Peonies) and the heart trio (Love Lives Here: Holiday)

Monday, March 25, 2013

Papergtrey Ink March 2013 Blog Hop



Blog-hop-logo 

THE CHALLENGE: SEQUINS

 Sequins are popping up everywhere on paper crafting projects and now's your chance to try out this new trend!  With the variety of colors and shapes available, the sky is the limit with the creative possibilities!  Use them to accent the centers of flowers, add them as borders, fill shakers, or create random splashes of sparkle. 



My first attempt at this challenge involved an anniversary card using Birds and Blooms stamp set. My final project couldn't be farther from that design!!

 I was inspired by Betsy Veldman's card from the March release (here) where she used Wonderful Words: Birthday die and stamps and a string of banners across the top. I kept the card fairly clean and simple, which is not my usual style, but I'm pleased with the final results.

I stamped the banner image from To You From Me in various colours and then hand cut along the chevron edges. These banners are larger than the Double Ended Banner dies, but I liked the fact that I could use the blank space to stamp the sentiments. I used a copic marker to highlight the tips of the banners and then slightly curled them. The banners were mounted on foam dots and a pink baker's twine was threaded through the folded section.


I stamped 'wishes' from the  Wonderful Words: Birthday stamp set and then embossed the front panel. The word 'birthday' was die cut and stamped with Raspberry Fizz. Finally several sequins were added around the die cut and on one of the banners. The front was attached to the card base with foam tape.


Card Details: (PTI, unless noted) 
Stamps - To You From Me,  Wonderful Words: Birthday, Tiny Tags I & II, 
Mini Scrapbooking Series: Tabs 
Inks - Raspberry Fizz, Harvest Gold, Winter Wisteria 
Paper - Stamper's Select White 
Dies - Wonderful Words: Birthday 
Other Supplies - Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug); 3D foam adhesive dots; Baker's Twine (American Crafts); lavender sequins (from my stash); Micro Glue Dots; copic markers.

P.S. 
I finished the Birds and Blooms card (without sequins!!) and will post it later this week.

Enjoy today's blog hop. Thanks for visiting.
Karen C.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Waiting for Spring!!

I've been hibernating for the last month!!
It's still snowy and cold in my neck of the woods, but we are getting longer and sunnier days and since we started Day Light Saving Time the evenings are brighter!! We could still have a few more months of snow and cold ... one year we had a huge snow storm at the beginning of May! 

So ....  in order to brighten up the days, I've decided to pull out Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar: Spring Fillers and make a birthday card. I started by stamping the tulip image and jar onto Bella card stock and coloured it with copic markers.


Once I trimmed the front panel, I realized that I would need a larger card base to accommodate the design. The focal panel  (with the Hibiscus Burst mat) is 3 1/2" x 5 1/4" and the white card base measures 4" x 5 3/4". The white card base has been stamped with Text Style and Hibiscus Burst ink. Bella Dots were added to the bottom corner.


The label from Friendship Jar was cut and stamped; mini green crystals were added to a few of the leaves and pink Baker's Twine accents the rim of the jar. All the colours really make me think Spring Has Sprung!! Now, I'm just waiting for the real thing!!

Supplies  (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Friendship Jar; Friendship Jar: Spring Fillers; Text Style
Inks - New Leaf, Hibiscus Burst; Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Grey Wool 
Paper - Stampers Select White, Hibiscus Burst; Bella white card stock
Dies - Friendship Jar label
Other - Baker's Twine (The Twinery); Mini Sparkles (Close to My Heart); pink dots (Stamping Bella); copic markers

Card Interior:
Sentiment - Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays; Royal Velvet ink
Image - Flowers for All Seasons (Stampin' Up); copic markers

The white card stock looks like I sponged blue ink along the edges, but it really is white!! 
I'm still trying to figure out how to get rid of the colour cast on some of my pictures.

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.